By ELISE ZWICKY
of the Journal Star
PEKIN —
Melinda Black never imagined that cutting glass and making jewelry could be so addictive.
Not only has Black signed up three times for a new fused glass jewelry class offered by the Pekin Park District, she’s also talked several co-workers and friends into taking the class as well.
“I’ve just always been a jewelry fanatic. I like anything that’s unique and different. Designing my own pieces is a blast,” Black said.
Black apparently is not alone. The new class offered by Pekin Community High School art teacher Amy Psinas has been full each of the four sessions it’s been offered since the summer.
“It’s a whole other ballgame teaching adults rather than kids,” said Psinas, who’s been an art teacher at Pekin High School for 20 years. “They come to the class not having any idea what they’re going to do. But the amount of fun they have with doing something so simple and letting them see their creativity is really quite exciting.”
Psinas, who has a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s in art education, first learned how to make fused glass jewelry herself last year.
“Last November, I got a $500 grant to teach glass to the sculpture students at the high school through the Pekin Area Foundation for Excellence in Education,” Psinas said.
She learned about the process through classes at the Peoria Art Guild and Lakeview Museum before teaching it to her own classes and independent art students.
Some of those students then sold pieces they’d made to faculty members to raise funds to purchase a new kiln for the classroom. However, Psinas prefers to fire the pieces for her park district classes in a kiln in her home that she received from her family last Mother’s Day.
“It’s not hard at all,” Psinas said of the technique. “It’s not stained glass, but it cuts like stained glass. You cut pieces of glass and stack them up two or three layers thick, and then you fuse them in the kiln, which is about a six-hour firing at 1,480 degrees. After it cools down, you attach a bale to the back and turn it into jewelry.”
For the $40 class fee, participants can make 10 pieces of jewelry, with most making pendants or earrings. The pieces are ready to be picked up at the park district office within a few weeks after the class.
“I was a little surprised that the class has been so popular,” said Psinas, who taught 21 would-be jewelry makers at a class last month. “We have everyone from beginners to experienced students in the same class because there’s always something new for everyone to learn. It’s hard to fail at this.”
Debra Sinks, one of the friends Melinda Black dragged to a class, said anyone can succeed at making the jewelry.
“I’m not artistic or creative at all, but it’s really not difficult,” she said. “Melinda was shocked that I liked it.”
Sinks had taken the class previously and brought her daughter, Jessica Thompson, to the September workshop. “She wears all the (pendants) I made before, so she wanted to try the class herself,” Sinks said of her daughter, a high school senior who had never before been in the school’s art building where the classes are held.
Jan Brown, also a repeat student, introduced her neighbors, Susan and Keri Ibbotson, to the class.
“I’m a crafty person, but this is a little more out of my realm,” said Susan Ibbotson. “It’s way easier than I thought. I like the abstract pieces. I even like my mistakes.”
Many of the students were making jewelry for themselves or to give away as gifts. Black, who’s made about 26 pieces so far, and co-worker Christy Smith have even donated some of their pieces to be auctioned off at charity benefits.
Besides teaching others how to make fused glass jewelry, Psinas sells her own pieces at fairs and festivals around the Midwest.
“I sold 13 trays at the Marigold Festival, and we’re booked every weekend from now until Christmas,” she said. “It’s just fun.”
Elise Zwicky can be reached at 686-3119 or emzwicky@yahoo.com.
Source: http://www.pjstar.com/news
